Rhode Island's Best and Worst Cities and Towns for Walkers

Rhode Island's Best and Worst Cities and Towns for Walkers

Rhode Island may be the biggest little state in the union, but that doesn't mean that all neighborhoods were created the same.

Where you live, whether it be rural, suburban, or urban environs, usually dictates your wallk-ability factor -- can you head out on foot to see neighbors, get exercise, go to the store, or grab a coffee on foot? 

Walk Score®, the organization dedicated to promoting the walkability of cities and towns nationwide, has scored Rhode Island's largest cities on their "walkability" - both proximity to key businesses and services from residential areas as well as infrastructure that supports leaving the car behind. The higher the score, the more walkable the city

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To see how the top urban areas fared in RI for being "walkable", see the slides below.

You can even break the areas down even further by geographic location, so you can see you how your own neighborhood stacked up.

And if you don't live in one of the most populated areas of the state? You can search for your town -- and how it rated -- by typing in an address or neighborhood here.

Walkability matters more than ever

Walkability has become an increasingly important trait in cities and towns nationwide. Several realty websites, including Trulia, Zillow, ZipRealty, and ForRent, now include walk scores in their listings.

Walkable cities, towns, and neighborhoods are particularly desirable for young people who will skimp on space in exchange for living close to both work and play, and avoiding the expense of a car.

So how do the cities in Rhode Island stack up for walking? See below.